I see Andrew Tate earned £21m from his online endeavors, but has paid exactly no income tax in either Romania or the UK.
Whoops.
Tax is for little people.
Honestly, all you need is a good tax adviser with some decent tax minimisation strategies.
It’s really nowhere near as simple as that. Unless he’s been very very careful with number of days spent in each country, he’s probably going to be Al-Caponed.
Most of these scammers are nowhere near as smart as they think they are but still get away with everything. But he seems to have gotten too arrogant and egregious to ignore in multiple ways.
“Burnley has England's cheapest housing stock. It's less than an hour's commute from Manchester, but there's 1 fast train/hour and I don't know re reliability. Name me a policy that would work faster than doubling frequency and shaving 10 mins off the time”
And the LibDems number nine target, now.
Although an unremarked feature of this election outcome is how few credible targets they now have; they won those they had and, for a change, chalked up very few near misses. A big part of that vote efficiency, along with the very low votes in the hopeless spots. The LDs are now essentially on the defensive.
Sevenoaks being the LibDem no. 14 target tells you all you need to know.
Coutinho is too close to Sunak to win the members vote, Braverman and Patel lack support from Tory MPs as the header makes clear. Jenrick and Badenoch have more but probably not enough to make the last 2.
At the moment Cleverly v Tugendhat is my prediction of the 2 the remaining Tory MPs will put to the members if Cleverly stands, if not then Barclay would take his place. Cleverly or Barclay then winning the members vote
I agree Cleverly or Barclay are value.
Cleverly is probably better.
They both come across as complete non-entities to me, especially Barclay?
Cleverly is apparently well liked, so there’s that. Barclay does not strike me as particularly likeable.
“Burnley has England's cheapest housing stock. It's less than an hour's commute from Manchester, but there's 1 fast train/hour and I don't know re reliability. Name me a policy that would work faster than doubling frequency and shaving 10 mins off the time”
Getting the 50 mile Blackpool-manchester line down from 1hr19 average to something sensible could, long term, be transformational. Doubt it would pass the business case tests though.
The median Lib Dem MP is a now a woman called Sarah who studied at a polytech and went on to set up a small charity in Wessex. With a few exceptions, they don’t look especially promising. Nor, to my way of thinking, classically liberal.
As Starmer has done, Davey needs a few choice Lords appointments.
“Burnley has England's cheapest housing stock. It's less than an hour's commute from Manchester, but there's 1 fast train/hour and I don't know re reliability. Name me a policy that would work faster than doubling frequency and shaving 10 mins off the time”
Getting the 50 mile Blackpool-manchester line down from 1hr19 average to something sensible could, long term, be transformational. Doubt it would pass the business case tests though.
You could call it something like … northern powerhouse rail…
Surely the only reason that the Tories would plump for Jenrick or Braverman is if they intended to either merge with, or form an alliance with, Reform?
There's no electoral benefit for the Tories to either of those two unless Farage/Reform is part of the package.
I think it'd make sense for the Conservatives and Reform to take a leaf out of Macron's book and mutually stand candidates down next election. The split would broadly be along second places. Reform will get plenty more seconds (They might take Llanelli) and the Conservatives will win back a decent haul of seats. The pivot to the centre to my mind is for the election after 2029 - but I think a coupon/stand down makes sense next time up to get numbers back up.
Given just how many Reform second places there were, wouldn't that be consigning the Conservatives to effective 3rd-party status? They'd never be able to govern on their own again.
I'm not sure that's true. I'll go through the 2nd places of reform in detail and compare to where the Tories won in 2019 once the little one is in bed
Obviously there's the 5 Reform wins you'd stand the Tories down in
Conservative 2019 constituencies -> Labour 2024 & Reform 2nd place. (15) - you'd probably allow both Reform and Tories to run here.
Whitehaven and Workington Hull West and Haltemprice Wakefield & Rothwell Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor Leigh and Atherton Bridgend Telford Blackpool South Stoke on Trent central Thurrock Dover & Deal Spen Valley Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr Amber Valley
Reform 2nd to the Tories (8) Stand down Reform here. North East Cambridgeshire South Holland and the Deepings Maldon Brentwood and Ongar Louth and Horncastle Rayleigh and Wickford Isle of Wight East Hornchurch and Upminster
& Reform finished 2nd in 74 Labour held constituencies that Labour held in 2019. Stand down the Tories here.
Reform would stand down elsewhere where it's a Labour-Tory or Lib Dem-Tory battle.
“Burnley has England's cheapest housing stock. It's less than an hour's commute from Manchester, but there's 1 fast train/hour and I don't know re reliability. Name me a policy that would work faster than doubling frequency and shaving 10 mins off the time”
Getting the 50 mile Blackpool-manchester line down from 1hr19 average to something sensible could, long term, be transformational. Doubt it would pass the business case tests though.
As I think even semi-sentient amoeba know, the business case tests are utter junk, seemingly designed by Treasury to wind the country down.
“Burnley has England's cheapest housing stock. It's less than an hour's commute from Manchester, but there's 1 fast train/hour and I don't know re reliability. Name me a policy that would work faster than doubling frequency and shaving 10 mins off the time”
And the LibDems number nine target, now.
Although an unremarked feature of this election outcome is how few credible targets they now have; they won those they had and, for a change, chalked up very few near misses. A big part of that vote efficiency, along with the very low votes in the hopeless spots. The LDs are now essentially on the defensive.
Sevenoaks being the LibDem no. 14 target tells you all you need to know.
That’s my fear. The silver linings are there, if we get lucky:
- A further collapse of Tory support in favour of Reform: I expect we could see that in some post election polls. The Lib Dem lands and targets have some oh the weakest Reform support. - Further gains in Scotland and, possibly, in Wales although I sense Plaid are in the ascendancy so any Labour losses might become Plaid targets - Hallam - A handful of seats where Lab and Lib split the anti Tory vote but LD came second. But these are limited. - Godalming and Ash
Nope you can't deduce that. There were more candidates for RN than either NFP or Macron in the 2nd round.
She literally got more votes? Or am I misreading?
It's quite possible, I am mildly drunk and definitely serene in the Luberon
They split the seats between them, so the maximum votes each could get was much lower than RN. It was virtually an alliance like CDU/CSU. Hard to predict what the numbers would have been if the two non RN blocs had stood everywhere. The NFP might well have outpolled RN but would have ended up with far fewer seats.
I asked ChatGPT for a comedy Manifesto for the UK Reform party.
I think it missed the point.
The Reform Party's Comedy Manifesto: A Laughing Matter for a Better UK
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed citizens,and those who just happened to wander in out of curiosity, welcome to the Reform Party’s Comedy Manifesto! We firmly believe that a nation that laughs together, prospers together. So, while others might take politics too seriously, we’re here to inject a bit of humor into the mix and reform the UK with a smile.
1. A Parliament of Puns
Our first reform is simple: mandatory puns in all parliamentary debates. Why argue angrily when you can wordplay your way to a win? A "pun-ishment" system will be put in place: those who refuse to participate will be required to listen to a full hour of the Speaker’s dad jokes.
2. National Comedy Quota
Every town and city must host at least one comedy night per month. Local councils will receive funding to ensure even the smallest village gets its fair share of stand-up comedians. Remember, laughter is the best medicine, and with the NHS under strain, we might as well laugh ourselves healthy.
3. The Laughing Police
Introducing the world’s first force dedicated to maintaining public joy – The Laughing Police. Equipped with tickle sticks and joke books, they’ll patrol the streets ensuring that no citizen is left unamused. Frowns will be turned upside down, and anyone caught not smiling will be sentenced to a session of slapstick therapy.
4. Satirical Sundays
Sunday roasts will take on a new meaning as the BBC will broadcast “Satirical Sundays” where politicians are lampooned by the nation’s best comedians. This will ensure transparency and accountability through the power of humor. If you can’t laugh at yourself, you shouldn’t be in office!
5. Comedy Curriculum
We’ll overhaul the national curriculum to include lessons in stand-up comedy, sketch writing, and improv. Our aim is to nurture the next generation of comedians who can make light of even the most serious situations. After all, who needs calculus when you can crack a good joke?
6. The Great British Laugh-Off
A nationwide competition to find the funniest person in Britain. Open to all ages, this annual event will bring communities together and remind us that, despite our differences, everyone loves a good chuckle. The winner will receive a golden microphone and a year’s supply of Yorkshire Tea.
7. Tax Breaks for Jokes
Businesses that incorporate humor into their customer service will receive tax incentives. A happy customer is a returning customer. Imagine the joy of being serenaded with a joke as you’re handed your morning coffee or checking out your groceries with a grin.
We will establish a new government department dedicated to ensuring the happiness of our citizens. The Ministry of Mirth will be responsible for nationwide initiatives to boost morale, including the distribution of free joke books and organizing national tickle competitions.
Conclusion
The Reform Party is serious about not being too serious. Our Comedy Manifesto is a commitment to making the UK a brighter, happier place. Because let’s face it, the world can be a tough place, and sometimes, the only way to get through it is with a good laugh. So, vote for us, and let’s turn the UK into the United Kingdom of Chuckles and Cheer!
Nope you can't deduce that. There were more candidates for RN than either NFP or Macron in the 2nd round.
She literally got more votes? Or am I misreading?
It's quite possible, I am mildly drunk and definitely serene in the Luberon
She only got more votes because she stood in more seats than the other two. It is like claiming when the SNP cleaned up.at the last election they did really badly because they only got 5%. That is clearly nonsense
We had an interesting and balanced debate about road pricing earlier. I personally think per mile pricing is wrong, as it punishes the wrong kind of journey. It's the shorter, urban journeys where alternatives exist that you want to make relatively less attractive, while making journeys in rural areas much cheaper.
A general policy of reducing the fixed costs of motoring while increasing the marginal costs can only be a good thing though.
Pity that government policy to move everybody to EVs does the exact opposite then.
Massively increased up front costs to purchase, plus steep increases in annual insurance bills, but then very cheap to run (almost entirely because of a tax arbitrage - diesel cars would be cheaper to run if diesel and electricity were taxed the same) particularly on short journeys where you don't have to recharge away from home.
Ummm:
Not true, even in the UK.
Maintenance costs are dramatically lower for electric cars because they are mechanically much simpler.
Now, on fuel alone you are probably correct (at least in the UK)... but I wouldn't like to bet on that continuing. Electricity prices are going to fall quite a long way from here.
Err - what maintainance costs? My dirty old diesel Passat needs an oil change every 10k miles that takes under ten minutes, requires under £20 in oil and two £5 filters (oil and air). It needs a bonus £5 fuel filter every 20k miles and a £300 (all in costs from a reputable garage, did it earlier this year) timing belt change about every 80k miles. I think all in that lot sets me back a whopping 0.8p/mile.
By far most expensive aspect of it's running costs after fuel is tyres, and being heavier EVs wear them out faster.
Yes, if you buy a new merc and get the dealership to service it they'll cheerfully stiff you for £300 a basic service, but that's just them charging a mug tax on £25 of stuff and 15 mins labour to people foolish enough to pay it.
You know how engines work, right?
Little explosions that drive pistons. Those explosions, and the thermal expansion and contraction, causes wear and tear.
All vehicles have parts that wear out, and cars with petrol and diesel engines have lots of them. You might have got lucky this year, but the data is not really up for debate here: cars with explosion powered engines need to have parts replaced more often.
Even brakes and brake pads wear out faster on explosion powered cars, because they don't have the benefit of regenerative braking.
I've been playing the bamgernomics game for a long time now, and I'm afraid it's fundamentally not true that IC engined cars need work because of their IC engines. That was the case 40 years ago, but unless you buy really poor quality vehicles (e.g. Ford or Renault) vehicles engines now usually have design lives comfortably in excess of the lifespan of the rest of the vehicle.
My Passat at 15 years old and 160k miles has had a couple of brake pipes, a repair to the wiring to the handbrake, three springs and a heater blower fan. I'm fairly confident they engine and gearbox will more than outlive the bodyshell without any major work - they seem to be good for 250-300k miles if you don't let the servicing slip.
Wife's 2009 Kia rio, 120k miles - I've welded up holes in the front subframe, I've changed all the brake pipes, I've changed all the bushes and ball joints on the front wishbone, I've replaced the ignition barrel. All I've ever done to the engine is shove oil in it at the required service intervals. It's fairly obviously going to rust away before the engine and gearbox give up.
My old 2008 Yaris - sold at 160k miles, having owned from 33k. Never touched the engine beyond servicing. Did replace all the wheel bearings, all the brakes lines, and the rear brakes because the handbrake components rotted away and fell to bits.
My 1997 Skoda 1.9 Fellicia pickup. Sold running just fine at at least 120k miles (I reckoned it was probably clocked) and 15 years old, but with what was going to be terminal corrosion virtually everywhere.
You get the picture - it's suspension components and rusty brake pipes that you end up fixing on old cars, and EVs will be harder on the suspension components because they are heavier. You just don't have to touch the mechanical bits of ICE cars any more beyond dirt cheap servicing.
Nope you can't deduce that. There were more candidates for RN than either NFP or Macron in the 2nd round.
She literally got more votes? Or am I misreading?
It's quite possible, I am mildly drunk and definitely serene in the Luberon
She only got more votes because she stood in more seats than the other two. It is like claiming when the SNP cleaned up.at the last election they did really badly because they only got 5%. That is clearly nonsense
In Washington, spare a thought for Karine Jean-Pierre who is having to go into bat for Biden at the press briefing right now. The media smell blood. This isn’t going away.
The Trump conviction didn't impact the polls at all but the Biden story has definitely made at least some difference.
So Trump is in a strong position according to the polls. If there is a 1.5 point swing to Biden then Trump still wins (287-251). If there is a 1.5 point swing to Trump then he could blow out 339-199 (in such a scenario he would also have a shot at the less often polled Maine and NE2).
400000 who were not entitled to vote or were on the black economy?
More likely 400,000 people who didn't realize they needed to bring ID to the polling station.
Too dumb for the vote if that’s the case. It was all over the media, on the poll card itself and has been a thing for the previous council elections. At some point you have to ask should they be allowed the vote if they are not up to speed on something so basic?
Coutinho is too close to Sunak to win the members vote, Braverman and Patel lack support from Tory MPs as the header makes clear. Jenrick and Badenoch have more but probably not enough to make the last 2.
At the moment Cleverly v Tugendhat is my prediction of the 2 the remaining Tory MPs will put to the members if Cleverly stands, if not then Barclay would take his place. Cleverly or Barclay then winning the members vote
I agree Cleverly or Barclay are value.
Cleverly is probably better.
They both come across as complete non-entities to me, especially Barclay?
For me the first question is what will the nomination threshold be. In 2022 (1st contest), the threshold was 20 MPs and 8 candidates made it to the 1st round.
Having 8 candidates starting out would be a bit ridiculous with only 121 MPs, so my guess is that they will set the threshold to get a max of 4-5 candidates in the 1st round. This then leads to some consolidation prior to the 1st vote.
The interesting bit of the LOTO gig for the Tory winner will be having to oppose on substance when for so long the focus has been on performative dividing lines. Asking the PM what a woman is during PMQs is probably not going to cut the mustard.
Neither will be shouting "he didn't answer my question" once Starmer probably starts answering questions. If I were the Tory Party I'd have Sunak stay on for a while as caretaker, not make any waves, and only attack Labour for anything massively egregious to Tory principles. Because the answer can, and likely will be, "you guys lost, fucked up the country even worse than we thought, and we're doing the long hard work of putting it back together again. Rome wasn't built in a day, and fixing Britain after 14 years of Tory rule will take longer than a week / month / few months"
My advice to him would be to restrict his attacks to matters of delivery, not policy. Start banging the "why haven't you started work on this since you agree that it's so important?" drum as early as possible.
Yesterday's announcement that they're going to place an ad to recruit a leader of the new Border Security Command is an obvious example. Starmer has been talking about this since mid-May as part of his 'First Steps for Change' campaign, so why are they faffing around with job ads? Why haven't they already got someone ready to go?
The other thing he needs to do is to get all of the probable contenders into the top shad cab jobs - including those who've previously been sacked like Braverman and Jenrick. That's going to cause some controversy, but they won't actually be running anything or even tasked with developing policy, it's purely to give them a chance to showcase their parliamentary skills.
Because they worship at the technocratic altar of correct process and procedure at all times and in all regards.
It will be their undoing
They are virtually guaranteed to be complying with legal obligations regarding due process in public hires, there to prevent corruption and cronyism in government. After the last few years I am in favour of this sort of legislation but the point about laws is you obey them, like it or not. Otherwise you have a standards commissioner on the case and kimonofoxbatman judicial reviewing yo sorry ass.
Yes this is part of the problem. They spent 1997 to 2010 introducing all sorts of procedures and regulations and commissioners and meaning everything has to be followed to the letter or else judicial reviews all round. All to stop wicked Tories doing bad things. Now its stopping them doing essential things.
The median Lib Dem MP is a now a woman called Sarah who studied at a polytech and went on to set up a small charity in Wessex. With a few exceptions, they don’t look especially promising. Nor, to my way of thinking, classically liberal.
As Starmer has done, Davey needs a few choice Lords appointments.
"Polytechnics" haven't existed under that name since 1992. They'd've been born on/before 1974. Are they all fifty years old or older?
The median Lib Dem MP is a now a woman called Sarah who studied at a polytech and went on to set up a small charity in Wessex. With a few exceptions, they don’t look especially promising. Nor, to my way of thinking, classically liberal.
As Starmer has done, Davey needs a few choice Lords appointments.
The median Lib Dem MP is a now a woman called Sarah who studied at a polytech and went on to set up a small charity in Wessex. With a few exceptions, they don’t look especially promising. Nor, to my way of thinking, classically liberal.
As Starmer has done, Davey needs a few choice Lords appointments.
"Polytechnics" haven't existed under that name since 1992. They'd've been born on/before 1974. Are they all fifty years old or older?
Comments
Although an unremarked feature of this election outcome is how few credible targets they now have; they won those they had and, for a change, chalked up very few near misses. A big part of that vote efficiency, along with the very low votes in the hopeless spots. The LDs are now essentially on the defensive.
Sevenoaks being the LibDem no. 14 target tells you all you need to know.
https://x.com/GeirJordet/status/1810303161405489279
At our expense.
Barclay does not strike me as particularly likeable.
It's quite possible, I am mildly drunk and definitely serene in the Luberon
The median Lib Dem MP is a now a woman called Sarah who studied at a polytech and went on to set up a small charity in Wessex. With a few exceptions, they don’t look especially promising. Nor, to my way of thinking, classically liberal.
As Starmer has done, Davey needs a few choice Lords appointments.
Conservative 2019 constituencies -> Labour 2024 & Reform 2nd place. (15) - you'd probably allow both Reform and Tories to run here.
Whitehaven and Workington
Hull West and Haltemprice
Wakefield & Rothwell
Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor
Leigh and Atherton
Bridgend
Telford
Blackpool South
Stoke on Trent central
Thurrock
Dover & Deal
Spen Valley
Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes
Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr
Amber Valley
Reform 2nd to the Tories (8) Stand down Reform here.
North East Cambridgeshire
South Holland and the Deepings
Maldon
Brentwood and Ongar
Louth and Horncastle
Rayleigh and Wickford
Isle of Wight East
Hornchurch and Upminster
& Reform finished 2nd in 74 Labour held constituencies that Labour held in 2019. Stand down the Tories here.
Reform would stand down elsewhere where it's a Labour-Tory or Lib Dem-Tory battle.
I feel almost dizzy.
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c98qw93zed5t
- A further collapse of Tory support in favour of Reform: I expect we could see that in some post election polls. The Lib Dem lands and targets have some oh the weakest Reform support.
- Further gains in Scotland and, possibly, in Wales although I sense Plaid are in the ascendancy so any Labour losses might become Plaid targets
- Hallam
- A handful of seats where Lab and Lib split the anti Tory vote but LD came second. But these are limited.
- Godalming and Ash
NEW THREAD
If he had then he would have won the leadership election and things would look different today
Still wouldn’t rule out a shock return
I think it missed the point.
The Reform Party's Comedy Manifesto: A Laughing Matter for a Better UK
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed citizens,and those who just happened to wander in out of curiosity, welcome to the Reform Party’s Comedy Manifesto! We firmly believe that a nation that laughs together, prospers
together. So, while others might take politics too seriously, we’re here to inject a bit of humor into the mix and reform the UK with a smile.
1. A Parliament of Puns
Our first reform is simple: mandatory puns in all parliamentary debates. Why argue angrily when you can wordplay your way to a win? A "pun-ishment" system will be put in place: those who refuse to participate will be required to listen to a full hour of the Speaker’s dad jokes.
2. National Comedy Quota
Every town and city must host at least one comedy night per month. Local councils will receive funding to ensure even the smallest village gets its fair share of stand-up comedians. Remember, laughter is the best medicine, and with the NHS under strain, we might as well laugh ourselves healthy.
3. The Laughing Police
Introducing the world’s first force dedicated to maintaining public joy – The Laughing Police. Equipped with tickle sticks and joke books, they’ll patrol the streets ensuring that no citizen is left unamused. Frowns will be turned upside down, and anyone caught not smiling will be sentenced to a session of slapstick therapy.
4. Satirical Sundays
Sunday roasts will take on a new meaning as the BBC will broadcast “Satirical Sundays” where politicians are lampooned by the nation’s best comedians. This will ensure transparency and accountability through the power of humor. If you can’t laugh at yourself, you shouldn’t be in office!
5. Comedy Curriculum
We’ll overhaul the national curriculum to include lessons in stand-up comedy, sketch writing, and improv. Our aim is to nurture the next generation of comedians who can make light of even the most serious situations. After all, who needs calculus when you can crack a good joke?
6. The Great British Laugh-Off
A nationwide competition to find the funniest person in Britain. Open to all ages, this annual event will bring communities together and remind us that, despite our differences, everyone loves a good chuckle. The winner will receive a golden microphone and a year’s supply of Yorkshire Tea.
7. Tax Breaks for Jokes
Businesses that incorporate humor into their customer service will receive tax incentives. A happy customer is a returning customer. Imagine the joy of being serenaded with a joke as you’re handed your morning coffee or checking out your groceries with a grin.
We will establish a new government department dedicated to ensuring the happiness of our citizens. The Ministry of Mirth will be responsible for nationwide initiatives to boost morale, including the distribution of free joke books and organizing national tickle competitions.
Conclusion
The Reform Party is serious about not being too serious. Our Comedy Manifesto is a commitment to making the UK a brighter, happier place. Because let’s face it, the world can be a tough place, and sometimes, the only way to get through it is with a good laugh. So, vote for us, and let’s turn the UK into the United Kingdom of Chuckles and Cheer!
My Passat at 15 years old and 160k miles has had a couple of brake pipes, a repair to the wiring to the handbrake, three springs and a heater blower fan. I'm fairly confident they engine and gearbox will more than outlive the bodyshell without any major work - they seem to be good for 250-300k miles if you don't let the servicing slip.
Wife's 2009 Kia rio, 120k miles - I've welded up holes in the front subframe, I've changed all the brake pipes, I've changed all the bushes and ball joints on the front wishbone, I've replaced the ignition barrel. All I've ever done to the engine is shove oil in it at the required service intervals. It's fairly obviously going to rust away before the engine and gearbox give up.
My old 2008 Yaris - sold at 160k miles, having owned from 33k. Never touched the engine beyond servicing. Did replace all the wheel bearings, all the brakes lines, and the rear brakes because the handbrake components rotted away and fell to bits.
My 1997 Skoda 1.9 Fellicia pickup. Sold running just fine at at least 120k miles (I reckoned it was probably clocked) and 15 years old, but with what was going to be terminal corrosion virtually everywhere.
You get the picture - it's suspension components and rusty brake pipes that you end up fixing on old cars, and EVs will be harder on the suspension components because they are heavier. You just don't have to touch the mechanical bits of ICE cars any more beyond dirt cheap servicing.
Latest RCP averages:
National - Trump +3.4
National 5 way - Trump +4.9
Texas - Trump +9.3
Ohio - Trump +8.7
Florida - Trump +7.8
Arizona - trump +5.4
Pennsylvania - Trump +5.3
Nevada - Trump +5.2 - TIPPING POINT STATE
Georgia - Trump +4.0
Wisconsin - Trump +1.5
Michigan - Trump +0.6
Virginia - Biden +2.2
Minnesota - Biden +3.0
New Hampshire - Biden +3.0
Colorado - Biden +6.5
So Trump is in a strong position according to the polls. If there is a 1.5 point swing to Biden then Trump still wins (287-251). If there is a 1.5 point swing to Trump then he could blow out 339-199 (in such a scenario he would also have a shot at the less often polled Maine and NE2).
It's crazy that Biden is still carrying on.
Having 8 candidates starting out would be a bit ridiculous with only 121 MPs, so my guess is that they will set the threshold to get a max of 4-5 candidates in the 1st round. This then leads to some consolidation prior to the 1st vote.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-trends-the-age-of-mps/